Parenteral iron administration has been a common practice for the prevention of iron deficiency in newborn piglets. The efficacy and safety of this method require reexamination due to the introduction of new genetic lines and management changes in swine production. The aim of this article was to review current knowledge on this method of anaemia prevention in piglets. Iron requirements, iron sources, and the mode of action, dosage, and negative effects of iron dextran injection are discussed. The paper also reviews methods for evaluating the efficacy of iron administration in piglets.Iron dextran, oxidative stress, heamoglobin, haematocrit

After introduction of the anticoccidial toltrazuril for the metaphylactic treatment of suckling piglet coccidiosis, only few field evaluations on the effect of treatment against the causative agent, Cystoisospora suis, were performed. In 2018, a field study was conducted to detect the presence of the parasite on pig farms in four different European countries, and to evaluate management parameters possibly associated with infection and disease. A total of 49 farms from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and Spain were included. Repeated pooled fecal samples from 603 litters were taken in the 2nd and 3rd week of life. Samples were examined by autofluorescence for the presence of C. suis, and fecal consistency was scored. For each farm a questionnaire was provided to document management and treatment history. Feces scored as diarrhoeic were not significantly more often positive for C. suis than non-diarrhoeic feces but samples from litters with previously reported occurrence of diarrhea were significantly more often positive (p = 0.000). Pasty feces were significantly more often positive than those of other consistency (p = 0.005). Overall, 71.4% of the farms and 50.1% of the litters were positive for C. suis at least once. The prevalence on the farms reached up to 100%. Diarrhea was seen in samples from 53.1% of the farms (9.6% of the litters). Cystoisospora suis was diagnosed on 80.8% of the farms with vs. 60.8% of those without diarrhea. Toltrazuril was applied on 30 farms, and of these 53.3% had diarrhoeic samples and 66.7% were positive for C. suis vs. 19 farms that did not use toltrazuril with 52.6% diarrhoeic and 79.0% C. suis positive samples (p > 0.05). Only on two farms a disinfectant with activity against coccidia was used, and C. suis was not detected there. Current control of C. suis appears to be insufficient on the majority of the examined farms. These findings highlight the importance of correct application of medication, and an effective hygiene management. To maintain effective parasite control, efficacy monitoring of the control measures should be implemented.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of iron deficiency on the thyroidal function and hormone T 3 and T 4 concentration in piglets before weaning. We used 40 Landrace × Czech Large White piglets before weaning in this trial. They were divided into two groups. The control group was supplemented with iron after birth, the experimental group was without iron supplementation after birth. Iron, T 3 and T 4 and haematology indicators were observed. Piglets in the experimental group developed serious anaemia. The iron serum concentration in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group. Significant difference in T 3 and T 4 hormone concentration was found between the experimental and the control group. At the age of 17 and 25 days we found the negative effect of iron deficiency on the thyroid hormone production.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of iron deficiency on the oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses in suckling piglets. Piglets in the experimental group were given no iron supplement till the age of 21 days. Piglets in the control group were injected i.m. with gleptoferronum at the age of 3 days. Blood samples were taken at 3, 21, 28, and 35 days of age and examined for haematological and biochemical indices. Iron deficiency in the experimental group resulted in the development of anaemia. Significantly lower ceruloplasmin activities in blood plasma were found in the anaemic piglets. The other biochemical indices of the oxidative status (thiobarbituric acid reacting substances, carbonyl proteins, super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) were comparable between the experimental and the control group. It can be concluded that apart from lower ceruloplasmin activities the oxidative status of piglets was not affected negatively by iron deficiency.

Suckling piglet coccidiosis is a common diarrhoeal disease of unweaned pigs caused by Cystoisospora suis with previously reported herd prevalences of 60% and more. The parasite quickly spreads in affected herds and causes malabsorption and a reduced and uneven body weight gain. The only drug currently licenced for the control of porcine cystoisosporiasis is toltrazuril, which suppresses parasite development and the corresponding diarrhoea. A recent study detected high prevalences of C. suis on swine farms in Austria, Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic independent of the treatment. Here, the situation in the Czech Republic is evaluated in more detail. In total, faecal samples from 161 litters (two samples/litter in the second and third week of life) from 17 farms (250–2 000 sows) were examined for the presence of C. suis oocysts by autofluorescence and for faecal consistency. An accompanying questionnaire revealed details on the herd management and treatments. Eight farms applied toltrazuril on the 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th day of life. Overall, 70.6% of the farms and 32.2% of the litters were positive for C. suis at least once, 39.4% in the untreated litters (n = 76) and 24.8% in the treated litters (n = 85). Diarrhoea occurred on eight farms (six with the toltrazuril treatment) in 11.9% of the untreated and 2.5% of the treated litters. This study shows that coccidiosis is still common in Czech swine farms and that treatment in the recommended time frame may reduce the diarrhoea, but cannot interrupt the parasite’s life cycle. Some type of effective disinfection, which may have contributed to a more effective parasite control, was not in place in any of the farms.